If a rabbit defined intelligence the way man does, then the most intelligent animal would be a rabbit, followed by the animal most willing to obey the commands of a rabbit. -Robert Brault, writer (b. 1938)

This year our sales to headphone customers was at an all time high. The majority of these customers are using planar headphones like the popular Audez LCD-2's. All used either our Mini Torii or the more popular Taboo with the planar headphone option, many considering it an upgrade from their present top ten list headphone amplifiers. We can appreciate that, after all, Audez LCD-2's if properly driven could arguably be considered the best $1000 headphones in the world so it makes sense to want to hear them with the best amplifier. When you hear what is possible with such a combo you will understand why so many have given up on floor standing speakers and room treatments and gotten so enthusiastically into headphones!

So with that said, I couldn't help but get a pair of the LCD-2's myself, with the intension of developing an amplifier specifically for them. The Taboo and MiniTorii sound good with them, But they were both designed as conventional speaker amplifiers. I wanted something that was designed specifically as a planar headphone amplifier from the ground up. I needed to know what the best ones out there were so I would know what we have to try to best. Ironically, after spending about 3 days researching the best LCD2 headphone amps and new circuits along with possible new chassis designs - I found out that the top ten list of headphones amplifiers for the LCD-2's had already been beaten for at least 7 owners by the Zen Taboo... People who owned one of the top 3 and sold it for a Decware. So apparently the Taboo is one of the amps to beat...

Being somewhat familiar with the Taboo, but a new owner of LCD's I was anxious to spend some real time with the combination. I ran the amp by itself without a gain stage in front of it, which I know is a handicap, but this is how at least half the Taboo owner's I found actually used it. The sound was good, but I failed to see what all the fuss was about regarding the LCD2's. I then thought, boy if this combination is considered better than the top three competing amps, they must be pretty ordinary. Bottom line, I was rather let down. Then I realized, like many of my own speakers, good speakers and probably good ear speakers are often not the problem but the messenger.

I couldn't help but wonder how good these cans really were and how a purpose built amp just for the LCD's would sound, so I took what was already working and loved by many (the Taboo) and focused on how to remake it specifically for the LCD2's. It was originally designed for loudspeakers, now lets see what taboo's await if it were designed for planar ear speakers!

I closed Decware for a week after christmas and spent the quite time in my shop in a highly focused and creative state (called heaven) and designed a new product. It's going to be a real ass kicker. A lot of things were discovered about lucid mode and it's potentials for both speakers and headphones, and how lucid mode changes with different loads. On an 8 ohm speaker it's pretty spectacular, but on 60 ohm planar headphones it's too reserved and sounds like it's almost in mono compared to what it could be doing… of course lucid mode must be ON to use headphones on a Taboo if you use the 1/4" headphone jack... so there you go.

Now with Lucid mode and the entire amplifier designed specifically for LCD headphones and with fully upgraded parts , you'll swear there is a DSP chip inside this thing when you hear it! Instead you'll only find 19 resistors and 4 capacitors creating the most perfect soundstage and textures you've ever heard.

My goal was to make it sound twice as good as a stock Taboo. I didn't expect to make it ten times as good, nor am I probably smart enough to anyway… but thanks to a happy mistake hooking up lucid mode for my wife, who helped in the final voicing, we discovered a happy little miracle that had me doing another complete re-design. The results (dual lucid mode) are so off the charts that I can't honestly see how this wouldn't be the best sounding headphones/amp combination in the world.

So I look forward to writing the design notes on this new product and getting it on the site. It will replace the current TABOO and there will be a $500 price increase... but when you find out what we've done, not to mention hear what we've done, you'll be still be looking for a tip jar! No kidding.

Input level controls for each RCA input jack. That means a total of 4 controls for the 2 sources. This was done to improve the internal layout, and make it possible to balance the channels independently for each source. Example, I have a great sounding tuner but it's a touch weak on the right channel. I make the correction on the back of the new Taboo and never touch it again. My other source, a DAC, remains unaffected.

BTW - the amplifier will also drive loudspeakers just as it always has, just sound better doing it.

I'll post a picture of the prototype in this thread when I get me camera working next week.

If the headphone jack is used as a preamp to another amplifier (other than the power section of TABOO) in a system how will this effect sound on a set of speakers? Is this "NEW Lucid" effect part of the signature of this new TABOO amplifier even on the speakers? IOW is the Lucid effect ubiquitous across all outputs (headphone and power tube) on this amp?

Here is a picture of the prototype. Of course you'll have to imagine what it would look like with the black typewriter finish that it will have in production.

The balanced outputs can be either two 3-pin XLR as shown, one for left one for right, or two 4 pin XLR jacks in which case left and right is in the same jack and you'll have two jacks. Use either one.

A marriage made in heaven. CSP2+ TABOO II all in one chassis. Use the CSP2+ preamp as a preamp or as a headphone amp for certain types of headphones as needed. Or use the CSP2+ TABOO II outputs as a full blown integrated amp for speakers or the TABOO output as headphone amp for Audeze phones or other that sound better with that. Or use the integrated CSP2+ TABOO II as a killer hard driving preamp using the output of the TABOO to power another amp albeit with a an impedance selector that limit the voltage so you don't blast off you main speakers with to much input voltage to your high current amp that you might use for say ESL's or something like that. A choice of both preamp uses would suit me just fine. I'd like to see those two in one chassis.

Either way I sure would like to know what this NEW TABOO would sound like as a preamp in front of power amp to power my favorite set of speakers. I should have said if the sound was right I would like a one chassis solution. Gotta hear it through speakers too. Hmm....

Will the new Taboo MK III require a pre amp or CSP2 to realize its full potential with speakers like the current Taboo?

Mark

As a stand alone product, the fact that it worked better with a preamp or high output DAC was a deal killer for many people, so that's one of the main things I changed about it, giving it enough gain on it's own now, so that the CSP2+ preamp is no longer needed for best results.

As for using the TABOO as a preamp, that's not going to be an option unless you already have speakers or LCD2's hooked up to it, and run the other headphone jack as a preamp output.

There are TWO headphone jacks because we don't want the headphone cable to drape across the top of the amplifier near the hot tubes. This way it can be plugged into to either side. You can also plug two headphones in at the same time this way should you want to listen with someone.

I just spoke to Steve today regarding this amp. What a great guy to talk to. Down to earth and very likeable. Thanks Steve for filling me in on the new Taboo!I do have a question about the new Taboo, what type of tubes will it use? I am going to put my name down for one of these and am interested in doing some tube hunting before I receive the amp!

Will the balanced XLR outputs be an option? My reason for asking is if you only use a single ended cable with your Planar headphones then you can connect to one of the headphone connections near the back on either side. If the XLR outputs are options, then would you then move the meters up towards the front?

Dibs, sign me up, whatever. I love my LCD-2s on my Taboo, fed by the Ultra. And I love them on the Cavalli Liquid Fire. This should best of/better than both. And I really love the prospect of two listeners at once. Don't need it often, but when you want it, it is very nice.

There's a brief squeal when you first turn on the LF, utterly absent from the Taboo. After fiddling with everything, you realize it was just your wallet.

Seriously, I think I posted here or on Head-Fi some of my initial listening impressions, which are probably almost 2 years old now. I haven't done any side-by-side, because the LF stays at the office with the LCD-2, and the Taboo is at home with my modified Fostex [known as, I kid you not, Thunderpants; mine are made of Kingwood], and a pair of headphile Terminator v4. I enjoy all three headphones on both amps, but have kept the LCD-2s at the office with the LF, because they are ready to go on fairly short notice and generate less heat. At home, though, the Thunderpants are actually more comfortable to wear for longer periods, and I have the Taboo set up to be fed by my Ultra, so I can ride the gain. That combo right there is why the Taboo is at home, and the LF at the office. The longer listening time is why I opted for the Thunderpants and Terminators at home.

Without the benefit of a preamp into the Taboo, here is my recollection synopsis while playing LCD-2s:

1. LF faster, with very good cymbals, exceptional transients, very crisp decay; can almost sound zingy compared to Taboo's softer edges, but likely more accurate;

2. Excellent bass control on the LF, definitely a strong suit compared to Taboo which doesn't seem as definitive and, on the Terminators, can sound a bit tubby.

4. Detail favors the LF. Listen to something like a hi-res track, or even better, the SACD, from the Allman Brothers at Fillmore. Recording really not very good, and as someone who saw them live before Duane died, I am always trying to hear the extra layers of dual percussionists, and Duane and Dickie's guitars. The LF seems to let me peek into those obscured layers a bit more.

Now, when you pair the Taboo with a preamp, everything changes. The combo of the Ultra/Taboo is pretty effing extraordinary, though on the Terminators, that "tube liquidity" can become "lugubriousness" and can almost be overwhelming, and in conjunction with some of the Terminator's known characteristics, pretty dark. Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms is other-worldly. What I have yet to do with my Ultra is experiment on Taboo-specific tube pairings on the Ultra outputs that feed the Taboo. I think that could be nailed to be the headphone combo of all time, and even better, easily changeable depending on your choice of headphones.

It will be interesting to see whether the new input stage will simply make a preamp unnecessary or actually make it counterproductive. Right now, the synergy between the current Taboo and the Ultra is very impressive. It is overall, the most seductive combo I have ever heard. Maybe not the most accurate, but then, my most accurate wife was also not my most seductive.

I am jazzed about the prospect of a true headphone-oriented Taboo with the ability to play for two listeners at the same time, along with the planar-oriented updates Steve has described. This will be killer. And I think the guys at Head-Fi will go ape$hit.

Steve, seriously, put me on the list; i don't want to be in line once the word gets out over there.

"[known as, I kid you not, Thunderpants; mine are made of Kingwood], "

Pale Rider, Can you let me know how the Thunderpants compare to the LCD-2s? I have a pair of Paduak Thunderpants and love them. I would really like to know how they compare to the LCD-2s. Right now I run mine off a Zen Head with a Z-box inbetween.Thanks,John

Pale Rider, Can you let me know how the Thunderpants compare to the LCD-2s? I have a pair of Paduak Thunderpants and love them. I would really like to know how they compare to the LCD-2s. Right now I run mine off a Zen Head with a Z-box inbetween.Thanks,John

John, I like the Thunderpants very much. Gary did an amazing job on these cans. Out of the box, the Fostex is not bad, but it is not in the same league as the LCD-2. But following Gary's work, it is in that realm, though I think the LCD-2 is better. The LCD-2 is smoother, and I find the detail less fatiguing. Thus the Thunderpants benefit more from the Taboo's liquidity. My recollection is the LCD-2 has better bass control. I haven't done a side-by-side in a long, long time though.

It will be interesting to see whether the new input stage will simply make a preamp unnecessary or actually make it counterproductive.

A very delicate surgery that was... it was important to me... to NOT make a great preamp counterproductive... I just wanted to bump it a bit so that it would be more than dandy by itself, and it is. I also like my decision to change the input tube from the 12AU7 to the 6N1P / 6922. 6N1P being warmer and smoother and the 6922 being more focused and articulate. Giving you a wider range of sound within that ideal mu.

Parts are starting to come in, the chassis are done and beautiful. I hope to start building them in March.

A very delicate surgery that was... it was important to me... to NOT make a great preamp counterproductive... I just wanted to bump it a bit so that it would be more than dandy by itself, and it is. I also like my decision to change the input tube from the 12AU7 to the 6N1P / 6922. 6N1P being warmer and smoother and the 6922 being more focused and articulate. Giving you a wider range of sound within that ideal mu.

That sounds great Steve. Can't wait to hear it. And since I have a snootfull of nice input tubes of both types, it will be great to do a small amount of rolling.

Hmmm. Just so I understand.... I have a CSP2+ and a Taboo II. Will the Taboo III sound better than this combination with the LCD2? By extension, would the CSP2+ and Taboo III combination surpass (with the LCD2 only) the Taboo III alone?

A very delicate surgery that was... it was important to me... to NOT make a great preamp counterproductive... I just wanted to bump it a bit so that it would be more than dandy by itself, and it is. I also like my decision to change the input tube from the 12AU7 to the 6N1P / 6922. 6N1P being warmer and smoother and the 6922 being more focused and articulate. Giving you a wider range of sound within that ideal mu.

Hard to say. Steve's comment could be implicitly read as saying that a good preamp could take the new Taboo one notch further. Might be the kind of thing where the difference gets less critical than tube selection, though riding the gain is a pretty impressive capability. Over at PS Audio, there is a lot of discussion going on around Paul McGowan's philosophy that the best preamp is no preamp. And I don't think there is any question that generally, simplicity is a desired goal, that fewer layers between the listener and the music are better. I am looking forward to getting my Ultra back from the shop to perhaps spend some real quality time comparing the various options of my DAC and disc player straight into Torii, or through the Ultra. The Torii is such an amazing amp, that I would not be surprised if I am sufficiently pleased with its capabilities without preamp. And both sources have sufficient resolution in their digital gain controls on paper to make them reasonable front ends without additional preamp.

Hmmm. Just so I understand.... I have a CSP2+ and a Taboo II. Will the Taboo III sound better than this combination with the LCD2? By extension, would the CSP2+ and Taboo III combination surpass (with the LCD2 only) the Taboo III alone?

The biggest difference between the Taboo II and the new III in this context is going to be the new LUCID mode, giving you an optionally wider soundstage with about 10 times the detail. IF you find yourself drawn to this listening mode, there will be no comparison. IF not, then it will be the same basic amplifier but with more resolution from the Cryo'd Beeswax caps.

Will the balanced XLRs put out more power? or is just better noise reduction you'll get from using them?

The balanced XLR's will put out the same power as the 1/4 inch TRS jacks. The noise is identical on both. The difference will be in that you can listen to the raw stereo signal without using lucid mode as an option. On the 1/4 inch TRS jacks, lucid mode is required to get a ground from both channels to the headphones. Without lucid mode turned on, there will be only a ground from the right channel. This still works but has mixed results depending on the recording. The same is true for the Taboo II. XLR jacks make it possible to have the reference stereo output into the headphones. Basically the same output that you could get from the speaker binding posts, but with attenuation for headphones.

Excellent info Steve. So, if we opt for 4-pin XLR—that's an option, right?—we can have two headphone jacks. And then the next question, will Lucid be switchable for both sets of cans at the same time, or individually?

Can't wait to hear this puppy. Did I say I wanted to be on the order list?

The lucid mode, volume level, balance adjustments, etc., will always effect both sets of phones equally. To get fully independent control with two sets of phones there is the "get two mod" where you simply buy two Taboos!

The lucid mode, volume level, balance adjustments, etc., will always effect both sets of phones equally. To get fully independent control with two sets of phones there is the "get two mod" where you simply buy two Taboos!

I bought the CSP2+ and Taboo combo this fall mainly to drive the LCD-2 headphones and was really enjoying the combo till I read that the new Taboo would be much better (you know how it is :P). Thankfully, I understand that Steve can perform modifications to the current white taboo to make it sound pretty close to the new model.

Steve, since I already have the CSP2+ and VCAPS in the taboo, apart for the second lucid mode circuit or «dual lucid mode» modification, would you recommend any other mod that would improve the sound substantially? Also, how long can I expect to wait before getting the amp back? I know I’m going to have to prepare myself mentally to live without my Taboo for at least a month because of the shipping alone since I live in Montreal.

Steve, since I already have the CSP2+ and VCAPS in the taboo, apart for the second lucid mode circuit or «dual lucid mode» modification, would you recommend any other mod that would improve the sound substantially? Also, how long can I expect to wait before getting the amp back? I know I’m going to have to prepare myself mentally to live without my Taboo for at least a month because of the shipping alone since I live in Montreal.

With the VCAPS and CSP2+ I think the dual lucid mode is going to be the main thing. We usually turn upgrades and or repairs in 10 working days plus shipping both ways.

Polys, thanks for reminding me, because I saw that note again after ordering. I reflexively ordered the VCaps, but if in Steve's view, the cryo-beeswax is actually more resolving, I would probably downgrade that part of my order.